The Rivers State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Samuel Eyiba, has said that to return to status quo was the only way to ensure good local government administration.
He said this when the state executive of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) led by its president, Mr. Franklyn Ajinwo, paid him a courtesy visit in his office Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Eyiba, recalled that the role of NULGE in local government administration was critical, hence the need to step up their duties.
The commissioner also stressed capacity building as a leading factor in the local government system, while assuring them of his support.
He further advised them, to map out modalities that could boost the system, adding that the success of the councils depends on NULGE members.
Describing himself as a product of uprightness, he charged the local government workers on the need to deliver creditably rather than pay prime attention to things that would not move the system forward.
Also, the NULGE boss frowned at a situation where their Directors of Finance are sent to them from other sources outside the Local Government Service Commission.
He narrated how one of their 2012 Laws empowered them to appoint their DFA’s from within the system.
Ajinwo, however, appealed to the commissioner to liaise with the relevant bodies as to ensure that the union’s request received the needed attention.
Furthermore, he called on the local government chairmen who are yet to pay the workers all their entitlements to do so immediately in order to avert a face-off with the union.
Earlier, the NULGE boss, had thanked the commissioner for his display of high administrative acumen so far, and promised to partner with him on issues that could bring change to local government administration in the state.